Latest Research on CBD Oil Offers New Hope for Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome and Autoimmune Disorders

For years, leaky gut syndrome (LGS) was thought to be nothing more than a myth in medical circles — simply a condition fabricated by ‘fringe’ alternative medicine practitioners to push their agenda.

But times have changed and researchers are beginning to take a hard look at the role abnormal intestinal permeability plays in a range of diseases — from autoimmune disorders to food allergies and even cancer. Characterized by abdominal pain, fatigue, inflammation, gas, bloating and intolerance to specific edibles, the syndrome can make life miserable.

Researchers believe LGS is caused when normally tight junctions of the intestinal lining become compromised and allow the passage of undigested food particles, toxic waste products, bacteria and viruses into the bloodstream. Autoimmune disorders can develop when these foreign particles travel throughout the body and activate the immune system, which mistakenly attacks the thyroid in case of Hashimoto’s, joints in rheumatoid arthritis or the intestinal lining with celiac patients.

Emerging research has found a majority of autoimmune disorders share leaky gut as a common root cause. In fact, world-renowned pediatric gastroenterologist and research scientist, Alessio Fasano, MD, believes three factors are always present in all autoimmune conditions: a genetic susceptibility, antigen exposure, and increased intestinal permeability.

“Besides celiac disease, several other autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, are characterized by increased intestinal permeability secondary to non-competent tight junctions that allow the passage of antigens from the intestinal flora, challenging the immune system to produce an immune response that can target any organ or tissue in genetically predisposed individuals,” Fasano notes in the February 2012 issue of Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology. [source]

Standard treatment for healing a leaky gut involves dietary intervention and addressing SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth — which has been implicated as the underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and celiac patients unresponsive to a gluten-free diet.

Classified as a chronic infection of the small intestine, SIBO causes the excessive fermentation of dietary carbohydrates and results in flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. It’s also a major player in fostering a leaky gut.

SIBO is normally treated with antibiotics, although naturopaths have had success using high-potency oregano oil. Avoiding FODMAP (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols) sugars, foods and refined carbohydrates may also be necessary to combat the infection.

Dietitians also typically recommend an elimination diet that restricts certain foods like wheat, gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, nightshade vegetables, nuts and processed foods, which contain proteins and other compounds that can contribute to autoimmune flares and damage the gut.

But now health practitioners have yet another tool to help patients heal their leaky gut and calm autoimmune disorders: CBD oil

The Role of Cannabinoids in Alleviating Leaky Gut Syndrome

As we now know, cannabis has a wide-range of healing attributes and has been used successfully for seizures, cancer, chronic pain and much more. With leaky gut syndrome, researchers have found cannabinoids act as an antioxidant, minimize intestinal permeability and also reduce nausea, inflammation, as well as the associated pain response.

A 2011 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology established that the phytocannabinoids THC and CBD reduced intestinal permeability in vitro. The researchers believe cannabinoids increase a protein called claudin-1, which creates tight junctions between intestinal cells and reduces leaky gut syndrome.

The team concluded:

“These findings suggest that locally produced endocannabinoids, acting via CB1 receptors play a role in mediating changes in permeability with inflammation, and that phytocannabinoids have therapeutic potential for reversing the disordered intestinal permeability associated with inflammation.”

Moreover, cannabinoids suppress the immune system — an important consideration since dysregulation of the immune response is linked with LGS.

“The cannabinoid receptor CB2 is found on the surface of many types of immune cells that cause inflammation. The use of CB2 agonists like THC can result in suppression of the immune system, which could help mitigate some of the autoimmune problems that are associated with LGS.”

Cannabinoids also reduce inflammation. Research in Jerusalem, Israel found that non-psychotropic cannabidiol (CBD) oil blocked the progression of arthritis and has great potential as a novel anti-inflammatory agent.

The team also noted there is much historical and cultural background in the use of cannabis. It was used for the ‘poison of all limbs’ — presumably arthritis, according to Ashurbanipal (died 625 BCE), dissolved edema and reduced inflammations (Pedanius Dioscorides, died 199 CE), and was used in India as a poultice over “inflamed, painful parts of the body.”

Overall, cannabis holds promise as a powerful therapeutic agent in treating those with LGS and autoimmune disease. More research is needed to fully understand the healing mechanism behind cannabis and these disorders. However, if conventional treatment isn’t providing relief, patients should discuss with their healthcare provider the possibility of adding CBD oil into their treatment plan.

Carolanne Wright enthusiastically believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, natural foods chef and wellness coach, Carolanne has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of organic living, gratefulness and joyful orientation for over 13 years.

Through her website Thrive-Living.net, she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people from around the world who share a similar vision. You can also follow Carolanne on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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4 comments

I had a wry smile on my face after reading your opening paragraph – so spot on! I remember trying to talk to my doctor about what people now refer to as the microbiome imbalance over 20 years ago. I’d been extremely unwell for 18 months and everything she’d given me made it worse – and I don’t mean in a healing crisis way. I eventually started thinking for myself – no internet commonly back then – and I’d formed a theory in my head of what was going on. Some time later, I was browsing in a health food shop and I found a book by Dr William Crook, MD (1996 ish, from memory) called The Yeast Connection Handbook – and from a quick peruse, I knew this was what I’d been thinking about. I took the book to my Dr – and the response was priceless. She briefly glanced at the front cover and then proceeded to pick up the offending article as though it were something just excreted by a dog and told me ‘that’s alternative medicine and it’s a load of rubbish.’!

After 18 months of illness and then this, well needless I decided to take matters more into my own hands from there – and I’ve never looked back!

Anyway, you can see how I can relate to your first paragraph 😉

I can also say that I believe the article is spot on re CBD & autoimmunity. I’ve also seen it work with breast cancer. This is, of course, the real reason it has been prohibited for so long, and even more so because of hemp. It was the healthy, cheap and ecologically- friendly alternative to the petrochemical industry and its mostly poisonous products (and to some extent other industries) IMHO.

Having said that – doctors do some things REALLY well, but I’m hopeful of not needing those services if I can avoid it.

Reblogged this on demetrius13 and commented:
Excellent article! This explains why hemp needs to be legal everywhere like it was before 1937. Our founding fathers grew it and the US Constitution was printed on it, not to mention cannabis being a treatment for over 100 medical conditions before it was made illegal in a backroom deal.

Excellent article! This explains why hemp needs to be legal everywhere like it was before 1937. Our founding fathers grew it and the US Constitution was printed on it, not to mention cannabis being a treatment for over 100 medical conditions before it was made illegal in a backroom deal.

About Wes Annac and Openhearted Rebellion

I'm a twenty-something writer & blogger with an interest in spirituality, love, awareness, activism, and other crazy stuff. I operate Openhearted Rebellion, a blog dedicated to sharing wisdom and encouraging a revolution that begins in the heart.
I've contributed to a few awesome websites that include Waking Times, Wake Up World, Golden Age of Gaia, and The Master Shift.
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